XANAX ( alprazolam )
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-Submitted February 20, 2008
fred don po

xanax and klonpan are the only thing that helps my panic attacks i tried all the ssri and maoi they dont stop no panic attacks anyone tells you they do they never had panic attacks really. i take 6 mg of xanax and 4 mg of klonpan a day and i been on them for 6 years gradually going up mg. they saved my life and my doctor dont believe you cant take em long term because he isnt helping the drug companies that sell maoi and ssri that try to push there fake medicines and talk badout benzos he believes real chronic panic attacks can only be addressed by benzo and hes right and anyone who tells you they give you a headache is crazy they get rid of a headache if anything maol and ssri are a lot more dangerous then benzos you ever look at the statistics of killing other ppl or there self by suicide by going crazy compare to xanax its like 99 % to 1% and the rate of overdosing on benzo it less then 1% a year like 0.009 each year but there the dangerous drug


-Submitted March 12, 2009
XANAX ADDICTION WITHDRAWAL

I started taking Xanax 15 yrs ago for severe panic & anxiety attacks. I had been working at 2 jobs & one night I blacked out at work. I had gotten real anxious & couldn't breathe. I knew I had panic attacks & couldn't handle public places, but I tried to lead a productive life. I went to the Dr & that is when I began this long road. I was young & never realized that Benzo's are highly addictive. In the beginning I was taking .5 mg 3 times daily. After about 3 yrs I was up to 1mg 5 times daily. After a yr of sleeping alot,I slowly started lowering my own doasge. I got it down to 1mg 3 times daily. Then several stressful things happened in my life. My Dr increased my dosage back to 1mg 4 1/2 times per day. Somedays I would take 2mg other days I would take 4mg. I have never took more than was prescribed. Most of the time I didn't take what was prescribed. The Xanax,along with my therapy sessions, helped with my panic & anxiety attacks. I was actually able to lead a half way normal life taking Xanax. I called the Dr to verify my appt one day only to hear that my Dr had a stroke & suddenly passed away. My appt was rescheduled so they could get a dr in the office to see people. Since I didn't take it as prescribed I had enough to last until my appt. I had to cut my dosage down ALOT. It was then that the harsh reality that I was addicted to Xanax hit me. I guess I thought because I could take less some days that I wasn't addicted. After a few days of 1 mg vs 2mg or 4 mg, I was having some withdrawal symptoms. I was crying, shaking, nervous,anxious, angry,having blurred vision & a bad headache. Then the bottom really fell out. The Dr they had brought in decided I needed to go to the emergency room to be checked before she gave me a new prescription. First of all my panic & anxiety attacks were beginning to become severe & I was having a hard enough time making myself see her. My Dr had become a safe person for me over the yrs. We tend to look for those people when we have high levels of anxiety & avoid things or places that trigger panic attacks.I could not go to a strange Dr & tell him I was having withdrawals from Xanax. I didn't feel I should have to. I was not a drug addict & had not abused my medication ever. I did not ask 15 yrs ago to be put on this drug that the Dr never mentioned was highly addictive. At that time I did not have access to all the wonderful sites that are on the web today. I am not sure I would have found the same thing about the drug then. At one time it was the only drug that was FDA approved for panic & anxiety attacks, I have since found out. I have spent the past 8 months keeping my dosage as low as possible,.5 mg a day. I cry all day, staying in my room,I go outside & I can't see anything cause the sunlight blinds me, then I start shaking, feeling as if I am going to pass out. My body aches, my head hurts,my chest hurts, I can't sleep. My marriage fell apart, because my husband did not marry this sad,angry,crazy person. He married a loving,kind,caring person. I can't count the times I have considered suicide. Thank God I am a strong person who has looked at what my kids & grandkids would go through without me. I just wonder when is this going to end. I am back to the point I was at when I started taking the Xanax originally. Only due to all the extra withdrawal symptoms my anxiety & panic attacks are twice as bad. I can't make myself go back to a Dr. for any health problem. I know I am going to be without ANY Xanax in the next week. I was placed in this situation unwillingly. I realize some Dr's are not too quick to prescribe Xanax today as they were 15 yrs ago. I wasn't a new patient though. Had I not been a smart person who took only what she needed, I'm not sure what would have happened to me. I feel the new Dr is to blame for what I have been going through. A good Dr, if she wanted me to get off of the Xanax,which remember she never said, should have tapered me off with medical supervision. A Dr should know the severity of Xanax withdrawals. Not tell a patient to go to emergency room & say I am having Xanax withdrawals. I would lay here & die before I shamed myself like that. I wonder how many suicides & homicides are because of Dr's playing God & not caring about what patients go through with these medications. I know I still have alot to go through, I just pray it gets better. Hopefully I can write you back in the near future & say I am completely free of all these feelings. If you can possibly choose not to take any Benzo then say no. I do know that it works very well for my symptoms. The price I am paying for my sanity though is not worth one day of the Xanax. Had I known I was going to feel this way I would have said no. Those yrs of living a halfway normal life, has cost me the joy of going out with my kids & grandkids today. If anyone is having withdrawals or feels the need to talk feel free to email me luvyou31301@hotmail.com


-Submitted October 30, 2009
the law

i was pulled over for not staying in my lane. distracted driving due to cel phone whitch i did not want to admit to. The officer gave me a field sobriety test and it was negitive for booz.I explained that I worked on a commercial fishing boat and was at sea for 10 hrs and it would be impossable to pass this kind of test. SO they took me to a hospital to draw blood. the test came back showing xanax.I called the national drug hotline and was tolod a blood test for xanax was useless and there is no published high and low concentration limits. the states it is ok to drive with a doctors advice and perscription.so why are the da and judge attempting me to cop to a dui for drugs and a community service sentance ? any tips out there.?


-Submitted February 4, 2010
Xanax DUI in Washington State

I have a hellish story. Two and one-half years ago, within the time-span of three weeks, I was negligently hit, in a near death collision, while driving in my vehicle, by a semi-truck - TWO times in three weeks. What resulted were two bulging discs in my low back, rib sprain and the onset of post-traumatic stress (I feared driving afterwards) and depression, as my activity level ceased, due to the pain, set in. After months of physical therapy, facet injections, trigger-point injections, my back became worse over time and my leg went numb.

In the meantime, I was seeing a PHd/MD, weekly, for over a year, treating me for PTSD and depression. I was taking 50 mg of Pristiq and 2 mg of xanax.

Three weeks before a major decompression three-hour surgery on my lower lumbar, I was pulled over because someone who I accidently veered near (did not hit), in a car next to me, as I turned left from a stoplight, called me in to 911 and said I was texting, and “all over the road”. An unmarked county deputy caught up to me about five miles away and followed me for three miles. During this time my wheels touched the fog line two times and the yellow line near a divider of this SR once. My leg pain was severe and as I was accelerating from increments of 50, 55 to 60 mph zones, I had to adjust myself in my seat to get my leg comfortable because when I extended my ankle nerve pain caused leg spasms, thus the crossing of lines a few times as my tight-suspended Mercedes Benz swerved lightly. No other cars were around me.

Being honest, I told the deputy I was taking a prescribed medication, and it actually helped me drive without anxiety, but that I had back pain and am being treated for that as well. I physically could not do parts of the field test due to the back pain, for example, standing on one leg. Worse, the field test was conducted on a SR within a 60 mph zone, and I was in a 6 foot shoulder area, with nothing but a rumble strip to guard me from fast-speeding vehicles. My anxiety was soaring. Because it was in the morning and my xanax was time-released, the blood draw from the hospital showed .05 mg in my system.

When he had me in the back of the patrol car, driving me to the hospital to draw blood, he talked on his cell phone, steering with one hand, for about 5 minutes. Again, worsening my condition and so demeaning. It’s against the law in Washington State to talk and drive!

The DA offered me a negligent driving in the 1st degree. I refused. My case has merit and my attorney and I are going to trial this spring. And when I testify in trial I will be under the influence of 2 mg of xanax because 1) I need it to help with PTSD, and 2) to prove to the jury it does not impair me.


-Submitted February 19, 2010
Clara

Since menopause, I started waking around 2:00 or 3:00 A.M. with intense anxiety and could not fall back to sleep. Subsequently, I felt tired all day long. My mom had Xanex/Alprazolam (from when my dad died), and I tried it. Most medications make me hyper; finally I found something that worked. I saw my family physician and he prescribed 1-1 mg. pill BID. It was great--my monthly script would last me 4 months since I only ever took 1/2 tablet at bedtime. I slept great, and had a productive day. Never once did I feel the need, or desire to increase the dosage. I have been taking it for approximately one year, without side-effects. I recently moved from PA to FL. I needed to get a new script. Yet, I never imagined I would have so much difficulty obtaining a medication that helps me so much, and is affordable. One doctor insisted I try EFfexor. It was so expensive and it made me agitated--I felt horrible and discontinued it immediately. My husband and I are very health-conscious; we do not use alcohol or drugs. Yet I believe I am treated like a drug-addict when I request a script for Xanex. I am just about out and dread the anxiety and sleepless nights. It makes me angry that people who abuse medications make it so hard for those who take them responsibly. Any suggestions on how I can find a doctor who will prescribe my much needed medication.


-Submitted April 20, 2010
BigDen

This is to the law They are trying to make you cop to a DUI because that is what those SCUMBAGS DO. They will try and say that you weren't able to drive because you were impaired. I would fight it but you have to remember the cops always win at their game. Your best bet would have been not to give them any evidence against you i.e. Blood. Never under any circumstance if you are pulled over and the PIG starts that DUI B.S. do not in any way make their, SO CALLED JOB easier for them. The police will not be happy until they have given every man woman and child in this country a DUI. Remember this the Police are not your friend in any way whatsoever. They are more of a threat to our safety and wellbeing than any terrorist. And if you are ever pulled over and the PIG starts to have you look at a pen while he moves it around or he shines a light into your eyes do not allow this. It is just a bunch of smoke and mirrirs so they can claim that they have probable cause to arrest you. Why they have you follow a pen with your eyes is because they are looking for something called Horizontal Gaze Nystigmus. To diagnose this condition you have to be an Opthmologist and you need to have equipment like you see in a eye doctors office. So don't fall for this BULLS--T! Good Luck


-Submitted April 20, 2010
nomoreaccidents

Long time lurker, thought I would say hello! I really dont post much but thanks for the good times I have here. Love this place..

When I was hurt in that automotive accident my life would be changed totally. Sadly that driver had no car insurance and I was going to be in pain for ever.

This was not time for me to start and guess what to do. I had to find a good personal injury attorney to help me get what I needed. After all, my family was counting on me.

How bad was it? I has bedridden for 7 months, I had to have constant care and my hospital bills went through the roof!

Thank goodness, I found a good referral site to help me.

I will post more later this afternoon to tell you more about what I have been going through.

If you need an personal injury lawyer try the guys at


-Submitted May 4, 2010
Wrongly prescribed now I am stuck

I am female now 70 years old. 2 years ago I had to go twice to the ER in a year because I had trouble breathing and my chest felt very tight. I have never had asthma or respiratory diseases so thought that I might possibly be having a heart attack. I was not and tests showed that my heart and lungs are fine. The second time I was at the ER I was asked if I wanted a Xanax as I might possibly have had an anxiety attack. I said no thank you as it seemed highly unlikely to me as I had never had one before or suffered from depression etc. I was advised to talk to my PCP. The one I had at the time was totally uninterested, did not ask any questions and just gave me a script for an inhaler and some alprazolam. My HMO would not let me have the inhaler as it was a powerful one and not allowed until one had shown others did not work. I was not sure I really wanted to take alprazolam but thought that maybe I might be in denial about anxiety, I had been unexpectedly let go from my job, could not find another and worried how I was going to manage on a small fixed income. I read all about the drug but in my wisdom decided that as I did not have an addictive personality it would be OK to take it for a while just in case I was prescribed .50mg twice daily. I actually took .50mg once a day at bedtime and much to my pleasant surprise found that I got a good nights sleep. So...I kept on taking .50 every night for the next 2 years. I never felt the need to increase the dose and I never had to go the ER with breathing difficulties. However the past few weeks i have begin to have a tight chest and unable to breathe properly again and feel miserable. Much as I hate to admit it I am assuming that my body is now demanding more Alprazolam and that I am physically addicted to a drug I really did not need in the first place!

I badly want to up the dose to .50 twice a day to see if it helps reasoning with myself that 1mg a day is not all that much. On the other hand I feel it would be better to try and quit. I did mention it to my doctor ( a different one) but she did not seem to think it was a problem and said to just take the 1mg.

So please can anybody comment on this. As I am now 70, don't work, have no children to look after, lead a quiet life, found that I can manage on a small income what does it matter if I take more of the drug and continue to enjoy life? Am I likely to start needing more and more alprazolam and what is an unacceptable level? The only other drug I take is a fairly mild one for blood pressure.


-Submitted May 13, 2010
Xanax DUI in Washington State Part 2

So now the deputy prosecuting attorney is offering me negigent intent, which is just as bad as being a driver in a drive by shooting. Very insulting. Hell No! My kids were in the car, and all I did was be honest when the deputy asked if I was on drugs, I told him ho, I am on prescription medicine. 3/4 below my theaputic level whe the blool was drawn. I am fighting this all the way. And my doctor, children, and husband are testifying with me.

XANAX ( alprazolam )
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